Innovation and Gender: Towards Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

In a world often designed for and maintained by the majority, the issues that matter most to the minorities are more often than not unattended to. Among the several factors that motivate the development sector, the empowerment of women is ranked high. It has been widely acknowledged that when women are empowered with financial and social independence, there is a perceptible improvement in the health of their children, their access to education and overall household income.

Several generations of social change have lead to the growing empowerment of women in society: the eradication of foot binding in China, the abolishing of sati in India, women’s suffrage in New Zealand. In a world that is constantly evolving, the potential for innovation to improve the lives of poor women has never been bigger. This is the theme of the report published by the International Center for Research on Women, Innovation for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality.

In their report authors, Anju Malhotra, Jennifer Schulte, Payal Patel and Patti Petesch explore the catalytic effects that innovation and gender role have on each other. Crucially, they ask how and when do innovations create long-term, positive shifts in gender relations? To find answers to their questions, the researchers employ an in-depth look at eight ‘innovations’ across three domains: technology use, social norm change and economic resilience.

Their findings showed how a broad range of innovations resulted in substantial benefits for millions of women, how influential people play an important role in launching or facilitating innovation, and how favorable conditions and timing capitalize on social and economic transformation can cause broad-based shifts in the empowerment of women.

The report identifies seven levers that need to be integrated into technological, economic and social innovation. Their report points to the need to break the mold and require that stakeholders think and act beyond existing, predefined parameters.

Read the entire report, here.